Grantchester will be returning for a second series it was confirmed today by ITV.
The series starring James Norton and Robson Green, is set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire hamlet of Grantchester. It is based on the characters created by novelist James Runcie. Grantchester averaged 6.6 million viewers and a 24% share making it a very strong debut for the new drama.
Eavesdropping on the life of Sidney Chambers, a charismatic, charming, crime-fighting clergyman, and his partner in crime Police Inspector Geordie Keating, became a highlight for the audience who revelled in their on screen partnership. Geordie’s plain-speaking, down to earth approach to policing complemented Sidney’s more gentle technique of coaxing information from witnesses and suspects. Their unlikely pairing became a true friendship as each offered a different insight into the crimes they unravelled.
The new episodes will go into production in London and Grantchester. Daisy Coulam who was responsible for adapting the first series based on the novels of James Runcie, will work on the new scripts from the stories within James’s second Grantchester Mysteries novel, Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night.
The series will be produced by Lovely Day, a sister company of Kudos, and will be executive produced by Lovely Day’s Managing Director and founder Diederick Santer (Cutting It, Jane Eyre, EastEnders).
“I’m delighted with how the audience have taken to ‘Grantchester’, and I’m very happy that ITV have asked us to make a second series,” said Diederick. “The show is a joy to make, so we can’t wait to get back to working on it.”
The new series has been commissioned for ITV by Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.
“We received a tremendous audience reaction to Grantchester,” said Steve. “It was so well received so it was an easy decision to commission a new series. We’re looking forward to working with Diederick Santer and reading Daisy Coulam’s beautifully written scripts.”
Filming will begin next year and details of further casting will come in the coming months.
